Secretive House board poised to go public, remains to be seen how open it will be

Former House clerk Thomas Hall questions whether discussions at the Board of Internal Economy would be protected by parliamentary privilege.

Conservative Whip Gordon Brown, left, says he's 'skeptical' about how many open meetings the Board of Internal Economy will have, but Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dominic LeBlanc is optimistic the 'vast majority' will be.

The Hill Times photographs by Jake Wright

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The House Board of Internal Economy’s next meeting, set for this fall, is expected to be its first ever open to the public, with legislation requiring this now passed. But it remains unclear just how open the board will be going forward and how the new setup will shake out. While there are provisions for certain matters, such as security or issues of employment and tenders, to be discussed privately, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Dominic LeBlanc (Beauséjour, N.B.),

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